Documentary Examining CPS Closings Premiering at History Museum

Students march in protest of the announced closings of 54 Chicago Public Schools. View Full Caption

Getty Images/Scott Olson

OLD TOWN — The world premiere of a Web series examining the fallout from the closing of 49 Chicago Public Schools will be held at the Chicago History Museum.

It's been a year and a half since the school board voted to close the schools after months of protests and heated debate.

The first part of "The School Project," a six-part documentary series, will premier at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at the museum.

The first segment of the series titled "Chicago Schools: Worst in the Nation?" documents the reform efforts in CPS from the 1980s through present day.

"The School Project's" interactive website will launch simultaneously during the screening.

There will be a panel discussion immediately following the screening moderated by Carol Marin, NBC5 political editor and Sun-Times columnist.

Panel members include Victor M. Montañez, artist, education advocate, and parent-student services specialist; William A. Sampson, professor of public policy at DePaul University; Penny Bender Sebring, a senior research associate at the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute and co-founder of the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research; and Angela Rudolph, vice chairwoman of the Illinois Charter School Commission.

The event is free, but reservations are required.

The event will be shown live on CAN TV and will featured on WTTW's "Chicago Tonight."